Universal pix to pump NBC U’s high-def web

UHD+ promises 10-15 pics a week, unedited and ad free

NEW YORK — Armed with an expanded content library from its merger, NBC Universal announced Tuesday it will relaunch its high-def Bravo channel to carry a wide array of NBC U cable programming and a heavy dose of U pics.

Universal HD+ is expected to carry 10-15 movies each week unedited and commercial-free, including such titles as “Jaws,” “Far and Away,” “Sea of Love” and “Back to the Future.” It will carry a number of NBC U cable shows in HD, including “The District,” “Karen Sisco,” “Monk” and “Battlestar Galactica.” High-def net also will offer NBC cable sports programming, along with the sort of theater and music fare previously seen on Bravo HD+.

Company is holding off on pursuing additional carriage deals for Universal HD+ until the channel — which will have two rev streams, subscriber fees and advertising — is up and running.

NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Cross-Network Strategy prexy Jeff Gaspin said it made sense to create one umbrella HD channel for cable programming.

Universal HD+ will be marketed in national and local ad campaigns as well as on NBC and NBC U cable nets.